Levee work is critical for protecting coastal regions, rivers, and flood-prone areas. However, for the workers who carry out these essential projects, the job can be extremely hazardous, especially when work involves operating from boats in remote, volatile environments. A tragic reminder of these dangers occurred recently when two Louisiana men were killed in a work boat explosion at the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area near Port Arthur, Texas.
At Kherkher Garcia, we recognize the devastating impact maritime accidents can have on workers and their families. Here, our maritime injury attorneys explain the risks levee workers face, the injuries that can result from boat accidents and explosions, and how an experienced maritime injury attorney can help victims and their families seek justice.
Two Killed in Work Boat Explosion at Wildlife Area
Two Louisiana men were killed in a work boat explosion at the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area near Port Arthur, Texas. The men were part of a levee project conducted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Ducks Unlimited. A third worker sustained serious injuries, while a fourth narrowly escaped by stepping off the boat moments before the blast.
Preliminary investigations indicate the explosion occurred shortly after the vessel was refueled. The explosion may have been caused by a fuel-air gas ignition. Gas fumes likely built up and ignited from an unknown ignition source. The explosion, which was strong enough to be felt over a mile away, remains under investigation by OSHA, the U.S. Coast Guard, Texas Game Wardens, and the ATF. The vessel was owned by TDW Rentals, LLC, a subsidiary of DEAN Equipment.
The Hazards of Levee Work
Levee maintenance and construction often require work in challenging environments where land meets water. Workers must operate heavy equipment, manage fuel systems, navigate unpredictable weather, and maintain balance between land-based and marine safety protocols.
Some of the key hazards that levee workers face include:
- Fuel Handling Risks: Refueling boats, pumps, and machinery introduces serious explosion and fire hazards, particularly when proper ventilation and fuel handling procedures are not followed.
- Confined Workspaces: Many vessels used in levee projects are relatively small, leaving little room to maneuver. This increases the risk of falls, crush injuries, and exposure to toxic fumes.
- Environmental Dangers: Swamps, bayous, and rivers pose natural threats, including strong currents, unstable banks, and wildlife encounters.
- Mechanical Failures: Boats, pumps, and levee construction equipment must operate flawlessly under harsh conditions. Equipment failures can have catastrophic results.
When employers and contractors fail to prioritize safety – whether through improper maintenance, insufficient training, or poor hazard controls – workers are the ones who pay the ultimate price.
Injuries That May Occur on Work Boats During Levee Projects
Work boats are essential tools for transporting workers, equipment, and supplies during levee projects. But like all maritime work, being on or near the water introduces unique dangers. Common injuries on work boats include:
- Burn Injuries: Fires and explosions caused by fuel vapors, engine malfunctions, or electrical shorts can cause severe thermal burns.
- Blast Injuries: In the event of an explosion, workers can suffer traumatic injuries from the shockwave, flying debris, or structural collapse.
- Fractures and Crush Injuries: Falls, equipment malfunctions, or being struck by moving parts can lead to broken bones or life-threatening crush injuries.
- Drowning: If an explosion or accident ejects a worker into the water, especially when injured or unconscious, the risk of drowning is high.
- Chemical Exposure: Levee work often involves exposure to fuels, hydraulic fluids, and other hazardous chemicals that can cause both immediate and long-term health issues.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Blows to the head during an accident can cause concussions or more serious brain damage, sometimes with lifelong consequences.
The work boat explosion near Port Arthur last week highlights just how suddenly tragedy can strike. Preliminary reports suggest a buildup of fuel vapors on the boat ignited shortly after refueling – a stark reminder of how even standard operating procedures can become deadly when proper safety protocols are not followed.
The Risks of Work Boat Explosions
Boat explosions are among the most devastating maritime accidents. Even a relatively small ignition can create a fireball that engulfs a vessel within seconds, leaving little time for workers to escape.
Some common causes of boat explosions include:
- Fuel Leaks and Vapor Build-up: Boats operating with gasoline or diesel engines are vulnerable to fuel leaks, especially during or after refueling. Without proper ventilation, vapor can accumulate in confined spaces and ignite.
- Electrical Malfunctions: Faulty wiring, exposed cables, or improperly maintained electrical systems can spark a fire or explosion.
- Engine Overheating: Engines that are not properly maintained can overheat, leading to fires or explosions.
- Human Error: Failure to follow refueling procedures, improper storage of flammable materials, or lack of hazard communication can increase the risk of ignition.
The aftermath of a boat explosion often leaves survivors with devastating injuries or loss of life. Victims’ families are left searching for answers. Investigations into incidents like the Port Arthur blast typically involve multiple agencies, take time, and can be an additional source of stress on grieving families.
Understanding Maritime Law and Worker Protections
When a work boat explosion or similar maritime accident occurs, the legal landscape is very different from typical land-based personal injury cases. Several specialized bodies of law may apply, including:
- The Jones Act: Protects seamen injured in the course of their employment. Under the Jones Act, injured maritime workers may pursue compensation from their employer for negligence that caused or contributed to their injuries.
- Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA): Covers certain maritime workers who do not qualify as seamen, providing workers’ compensation-like benefits for job-related injuries.
- Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA): Provides recovery for families of workers who die in maritime accidents beyond three nautical miles from the U.S. shore.
- General Maritime Law: Provides additional remedies, such as maintenance and cure (payment of medical expenses and living costs) for injured seamen, regardless of who was at fault.
Determining which law applies depends on many factors, including the worker’s job duties, where the accident occurred, and the nature of the vessel involved. An experienced maritime attorney can help injured workers and grieving families navigate this complex legal system.
How a Maritime Injury Attorney Can Help Victims and Their Families
In the aftermath of a maritime tragedy, employers and vessel owners may move quickly to limit their liability. Investigations may be skewed, evidence may disappear, and injured workers or families may be pressured into accepting low settlements before they fully understand their rights.
That’s why it is critical to work with an attorney who has specific experience handling maritime injury and death cases. A skilled maritime injury lawyer can:
- Investigate the Cause of the Explosion or Accident. Maritime law firms often work with experts in engineering, marine safety, and accident reconstruction to determine the true cause of the incident.
- Establish Employer or Third-Party Liability. If negligence – such as failure to maintain equipment, unsafe refueling procedures, or lack of ventilation – contributed to the explosion, a lawsuit can hold responsible parties accountable.
- Navigate Complex Maritime Laws. A maritime injury lawyer understands the Jones Act, LHWCA, and other maritime statutes, ensuring that claims are filed correctly and within the applicable time limits.
- Pursue Full Compensation. This may include lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, rehabilitation costs, and wrongful death benefits.
- Protect the Rights of Families. When a maritime worker is killed, surviving family members deserve justice and financial security. An attorney can help pursue wrongful death claims under the proper maritime statutes.
You Are Not Alone – Kherkher Garcia Can Help
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a work boat explosion, levee project accident, or other maritime incident, you are not alone. The legal system can be overwhelming – especially when you are grieving or trying to recover from serious injuries. But you have rights, and you deserve answers.
At Kherkher Garcia, we have decades of experience standing up for injured maritime workers and their families. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that maritime accidents cause – and we fight tirelessly to help our clients get the compensation they deserve.
Our team will thoroughly investigate your case, identify every responsible party, and aggressively pursue the justice you are entitled to under the law. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Contact Kherkher Garcia Today
Maritime work is dangerous enough without preventable tragedies caused by negligence. If you need a team that understands the intricacies of maritime law and the real-world impacts of serious injuries, contact Kherkher Garcia today.
We offer free, confidential consultations and are ready to help you explore your legal options. Call us now at 713-333-1030, or fill out our online form to schedule your free case review.
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